Educators and parents often seek ways to make history engaging and accessible to children. The Montessori method emphasizes hands-on learning and self-directed exploration, making it an excellent approach to studying significant historical events like the formation of the 13 colonies. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the exciting topic of the 13 Colonies of the U.S., using engaging materials that include a colorful wooden puzzle with arrows, a control chart, research cards, and task cards divided into four scaffolded sections.
The 13 colonies played a crucial role in American history as they laid the foundation for what would eventually become the United States. Each colony had its unique characteristics, culture, and story, offering endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. Students will discover the colonies’ initial demarcation using the puzzle, and learn more about each colony using the research cards. Later, the task cards will provide them with questions that challenge their newly acquired knowledge.
Materials
- 13 Colonies of the U.S. Complete Set
- 13 Colonies of the U.S. Puzzle
- 13 Colonies of the U.S. Research Cards
- 13 Colonies of the U.S. Task Cards
How to Introduce the Complete Set
13 Colonies of the U.S. Puzzle
Our wooden puzzle depicts the 13 colonies serving as a tactile and visual aid for children. The puzzle not only teaches them about the geographic layout of the colonies but also helps develop fine motor skills. As they piece together the puzzle, children can discuss the significance of each colony’s location and its historical context. A layout of the current states demarcation appears on the puzzle. The wooden arrows are using to label the puzzle appropriately.
13 Colonies of the U.S. Research Cards
Our wooden puzzle depicts the 13 colonies serving as a tactile and visual aid for children. The puzzle not only teaches them about the geographic layout of the colonies but also helps them develop fine motor skills. As they piece together the puzzle, children can discuss the significance of each colony’s location and its historical context. A layout of the current state’s demarcation appears on the puzzle. The wooden arrows are used to label the puzzle appropriately.
13 Colonies of the U.S. Task Cards Sect. 1
IDENTIFYING THE COLONIES – Section 1 is a simple exercise to help learners match colony names with their corresponding shapes on the puzzle. This exercise can be an extension to working with the puzzle, arrow, and control chart.
13 Colonies of the U.S. Task Cards Sect. 2
ESTABLISHMENT – This exercise prompts learners to recall the year a colony was officially founded. This section can be used after having studied the research cards multiple times. Learners may write their answers in a notebook to add an additional concrete experience to the learning process.
13 Colonies of the U.S. Task Cards Sect. 3
RESEARCH – This section fosters a sense of historical context. Learners research specific information about a given colony. The task cards encourage learners to explore the economical situation, historical figures, major trades, and cultural elements unique to each colony. For example, card 3.1 says “Research the economy and population of Georgia in 1775. What kind of people lived there? What did the colony produce?” A possible answer is on the back of each card.
13 Colonies of the U.S. Task Cards Sect. 4
ADVANCED – For older children, these cards require a deeper historical knowledge of each colony. All the knowledge requested can be found in the research cards. The answers are provided on the back of each card. For example, card 4.5 asks, “Which colony was formed by the Puritan settlers?”
We hope our new material will make learning about the 13 colonies enjoyable but also reinforces critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. As children interact with the materials, they will gain a comprehensive understanding of the geographical and historical significance of each colony, as well as its contribution to the formation of the United States. For more materials aligned with the Montessori design for learning, visit our website at www.alisonsmontessori.com.
